Sunday, December 14, 2008

Raje out of Rajasthan?


Licking its wounds since a shocking defeat in the recently concluded assembly elections, The Rajasthan state BJP is still looking into reasons that led to the debacle. With accusations flying thick, the party is assessing the damage and reasons, lest an encore be witnessed in the parliamentary outing next year.

Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state unit president Om Prakash Mathur stayed on in Delhi on Sunday, as the party leadership continued an analysis to stick blame and to, perhaps, work out an amicable middle path between the warring leaders.

The party action is said to be an exercise carried out to cushion the party from any similar ‘surprises’ in the parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in a few months time.

Several rounds of talks between Raje, Mathur and the central leadership of the party are reported to have failed to yield an end to the stalemate.

Raje and Mathur are camping in Delhi in accordance with directives issued by party bosses, who are expected to hold parleys with other leaders from the state before reaching a conclusion.

With the deadlock continuing to impede on party work, the state BJP decided against convening its lawmakers to formally elect a leader of the legislature party.

The meeting may now be held after the central party leadership decides on a future role for Raje.

The ongoing crisis has left the party with few options as shunting Raje or Mathur out at this point may trigger dissent and hurt the party’s showing at the hustings.

Raje may well be offered a plum responsibility in the central party office in the next few days, especially, as the party is left with only one female leader of stature since former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti, a known Raje adversary, quit the party.

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